The Cementum

Dr. Ghassan Balousha

Assistant Professor of Pathology
Faculty of Medicine,
Al-Quds University
 Acellular versus cellular cementum
⚫During the formation of the root,
acellular cementum is layed
down mainly in the pericervical
(upper) region of the root.
⚫Cellular cementum is layed
down after eruption and
throughout life, and is located in
the periapical (lower) and
interradicular regions of the root.
⚫A, Cellular cementum;
⚫B, Dentin;
⚫C, Interradicular cementum
 Fused root tips
⚫A,The continued
Cellular cementum; B, Dentin; C, Interradicular cementum

deposition of
cementum is illustrated
in this cross-section of
molar roots.
⚫The interradicular
cementum of the roots
is fused together
(arrow).
 Cementocytes
A, Cementocyte in lacuna; B, Process of cementocyte in canaliculi
⚫ Cementoblasts lay down
cementum on the surface of root
dentin.
⚫ Some cementoblasts become
embedded in the cellular
cementum.
⚫ These cells are called
cementocytes.
⚫ Cementocytes are housed in
hollow spaces in the cementum
called lacunae.
⚫ The processes of the cementocytes
project toward the periodontal
ligament in small tubes in the
cementum called canaliculi
 The periodontal ligament
⚫The periodontal ligament is made of large collagen fibers
that course between the cementum and the alveolar bone.
⚫Collagen fibers are embedded in the outer layer of
cementum and are called Sharpey's fibers.
⚫Sharpey’s Fibers project into the cementum between groups
of cementoblasts, and lie perpendicular to the surface of
the cementum (direction indicated by the blue arrow).
⚫The cementoblasts also lay down fine collagen fibers in the
cementum which lie parallel to the surface of the cementum
(direction indicated by the green arrow). In this micrograph
of acelluar cementum (bracket) the dentino-cementum
junction can be seen.
Sharpey's fibers in acellular cementum

A, Periodontal ligament
fibers;
B, Sharpey's fibers;
C, Dentino-cementum
junction;
D, Cementoblasts;
E, Acellular cementum
 Arrest or resting lines
A, Arrest lines; B, Dentin
⚫Cementum is layed
down at intervals as
evidenced by the
appearance of arrest
lines (light and dark
banding pattern) in the
cementum.
⚫These lines indicate
alternating periods of
deposition and lack of
deposition of
cementum.
 Cementum lamellae
A, Cementum; B, Granular layer of dentin; C, Periodontal ligament

⚫In polarized light, a banding

pattern in cementum is seen
indicating alternating
directionality of collagen fibers
in cementum running parallel to
the root surface.
⚫ Collagen fibers of the
periodontal ligament run
perpendicular to the root
surface.
 Cementicles
A, Periodontal ligament; B, Cementicle
⚫Calcified bodies are
sometimes found in the
periodontal ligament.
⚫These are called
cementicles and are
formed in a number of
ways.
⚫Some are formed from
the calcification of
epithelial rests.
 Attached cementicle
A, Embedded cementicle; B, Periodontal ligament; C, Alveolar bone

⚫Cementicles may be free

in the periodontal
ligament, attached to
the surface of cementum
or embedded in the
cementum.
⚫In this micrograph a
cementicle is embedded
in the cementum layer.